Sri Lanka blocks social media as deadly violence continues

Source: The Guardian

 in Colombo and 

Reports of attack on Buddhist temple sparks anti-Muslim riots in Kandy district

Sri Lankan security forces clean up a street in Kandy as a 10-day state of emergency is declared.
 Sri Lankan security forces clean up a street in Kandy as a 10-day state of emergency is declared. Photograph: Xinhua/Barcroft Images

At least two people have been killed and eight others injured in anti-Muslim riots in a popular tourist district in central Sri Lanka as the government blocked Facebook and other social media services in an effort to quell the violence.

Reports of an attack on a Buddhist temple in Abathanna triggered another day of clashes across Kandy district between members of the country’s mostly Buddhist Sinhala majority and police.

One man died from a heart attack after his shop was attacked and another person is thought to have been killed while trying to attack a mosque, according to police in Katugastota town and sources at the prime minister’s office said.

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